Tri-Lo-Sprintec and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• txg...
• July 30, 2019

For Birth Control "60 days of awfulness. I was on Orth Tri-Cyclen Lo for 14 years before switching to Tri-Lo Sprintec. I don't believe it was an equivalent generic. I’m a strong, independent, hard-working, successful, and happy woman who is very driven — motivation was the first to go. I gained 12 lbs in 1 week. I was irritable, emotional, anxious about everything. I was depressed and had dark thoughts (which I knew was crazy) but couldn’t think straight enough to know I needed help. I had zero sex drive, felt bloated and horrible. Nothing mattered (relationship, career). I realized I wasn’t alone. After stopping Tri-Lo Sprintec, I started thinking clearly, the hazy brain fog was gone. I switched to Aviane - I'm 3 weeks in with zero side effects. I’m feeling myself again. Not everyone has extreme reactions to Tri-Lo Sprintec, but if you’re on here looking for answers - talk to your doctor. I have submitted this to the FDA and Teva as a formal complaint."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I can’t believe it took me 6 months to figure out this pill was making me lose my mind. I have been on Trinessa Lo for about 3 years, and when they discontinued it a few months ago during the winter, they put me on Tri-Lo-Sprintec. The pharmacist said that it was the same. HA. I have had insane mood swings, depression for the first time in my life, irritability, fatigue, and no libido. My good friend's mom is an OB and is getting me on a new pill. This should not be a substitute for ortho-tricyclen Lo or Trinessa Lo, it freaking sucks!"

• MRK...
• September 19, 2017

For Birth Control "THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS ORTHO TRI CYCLEN LO!! I do not care what pharmacists or doctors say. I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 15 years and loved it and had NO side effects. The 'generic' was given to me because my insurance stopped covering birth control, and obviously, the generic is cheaper. Within 2 weeks, my moods were INSANE - I can't stop crying, and I am just an emotional mess. My boobs are huge and hurt so bad, and I have horribly painful cystic acne all over my face, chin, and neck. It also made my sex drive literally nonexistent. This is the worst thing that I have put in my body. I do not recommend that anyone take this. What's more upsetting is that it is acceptable to tell people that it is comparable to the real medication."

• sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was on Trinessa Lo since 2016 and loved it! However, in December 2018, I was switched to Tri-Lo-Sprintec since Trinessa is sadly being discontinued. I HATE THIS PILL. It is now Feb 2019, and I started randomly spotting and abnormally bleeding 2 weeks before my period, and now I’m still spotting the week after. I have a significantly decreased sex drive as well. I would not recommend this pill! I'm going to get it changed ASAP."

• SUZ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Tri-Lo-Sprintec is an effective birth control, but awful side effects. Just like many reviewers, I have been on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and subsequently Trinessa Lo for years... and loved it. Both are manufactured by Janssen, and both have been discontinued. So I was defaulted to Tri-Lo-Sprintec. I hate this drug. It should not be considered an equivalent to the Janssen brands. I have been dealing with acne, weight gain, and zero libido. I gave it 3 months and do not see improvement. I'm hoping there is a better alternative to the Janssen brand after speaking with my doctor. Good luck, gals!"

• TEL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Tried to make a longer post but had to cut it short. I have been on birth control since around age 21, originally for acne. I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. My doctor advised me to go back on BC for at least 3 months after returning from a Zika zone. I was sent Tri-Lo-Sprintec from my mail order pharm. NEVER AGAIN! In no particular order, I have extreme irritability, extremely sore boobs, INSOMNIA, experienced my first panic attack, ZERO SEX DRIVE, vaginal dryness, and the worst acne I have had since age 13. This med is NOT the same as Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, so make sure you insist to your doctor that you do not want it. In all my years of taking BC with little side effects, this has been the worst 3 months ever."

• BKa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "After not feeling like myself for months, I decided to research my birth control (Tri-Lo-Sprintec) and see other people’s reviews out of curiosity. I was shocked to find that many people experienced the same symptoms as I did. After a couple of months of taking this pill, I experienced physical and mental health issues including depression, heart palpitations, shortness of breath that sometimes felt like I was about to have an anxiety attack, irritability, and mood swings that made me angry and later regretful, breast soreness, feeling unmotivated and extremely tired, as well as feeling weak overall, and a noticeable decrease in libido as I got into the 3rd and 4th month of this birth control. Birth control affects everyone differently, but with so many similar reviews on here, I thought I would share my input and strongly guide everyone who reads this to look into another alternative for birth control. I will be getting off of this Tri-Lo-Sprintec ASAP as I feel these symptoms are related to this pill!"

• Mrs...
• September 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 10 years and loved it and had no side effects. I had to switch to Tri-Lo-Sprintec 2 years ago after my insurance wouldn't cover Ortho anymore. Since switching, I have gotten horrible acne, and I never had acne before, even as a teenager. I've also become very moody and have no sex drive. I've also gained between 5-10 pounds that I just can't get rid of. After reading other reviews on this pill, I was finally able to put the pieces together and realized the pill seems to be the culprit for my issues. Once I finish this pack, I'm getting off of it. Stay away from this birth control!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m 21, and I’ve been on this birth control for about 2 months. I’m trying to stick it out to see if I’m one of the lucky ones like some other reviews I’ve read and my body will just get used to it. Since I’ve started taking this, I quit my job, sleep most of the day, never want to get out of the house. Showering and brushing my teeth is even a chore now. I’ve never felt like this before. I was taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen at first, and it cleared my skin and never gave me any side effects. I was on that for 3 years, and I swore by it! The pharmacist and doctor both said this was the same thing, just a generic brand. I can assure you it’s not. I’ve noticed a little change in my sex drive. I have no appetite and can barely stomach anything. I’ve lost weight. Depressed state of mind all the time. But none of this even compares to how bad my acne is! My jawline and all around the sides of my cheeks and face. I never even broke out in these places, and now it’s awful!"

• Fir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve seen a lot of bad reviews for Tri-Lo-Sprintec, but honestly, I got so lucky with this being my first bc pill. I have no major side effects of depression, weight gain, anxiety, etc. The only thing would be a slight decrease in sex drive, but that’s about it! It has worked really well for me, and I have little to no complaints!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2020

For Birth Control "So I was on a different BC that was the exact same thing as Tri-Lo-Sprintec except I didn’t have the same side effects. I was recommended Tri-Lo-Sprintec by my Dr. I’ve been on this one since Oct 2019 with no problems in the beginning, and here it is in February 2020, and I have been having the most worse headaches/migraines. And my breasts are constantly itchy, and they have small dry patches on my nipples. Also, my sex drive drastically dropped. So, I would not recommend this pill, it started off great and ended bad."

• May...
• May 8, 2016

For Birth Control "Terrible! I've been constantly irritable since switching to this from Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I've also experienced low sex drive, intense food cravings, and vaginal irritation. My pharmacy told me this would be the same as Ortho Tri-Cyclen, but it's definitely not. I thought I was losing my mind until I started researching this drug and saw how many women were having the same problems. I went to the pharmacy today, and they switched back to the Ortho Tri-Cyclen. It's so expensive, but definitely worth it if it makes these mood swings go away."

• Kdu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2020

For Birth Control "Holy moly. This is the absolute worst birth control I have ever been on. I got on it to clear my acne, and it didn't even help with that. It made me bloated all the time, have extremely heavy periods, not to mention it made my anxiety 17,461,565 times worse. I felt like I was going crazy. I had horrible mood swings, especially around my period, my boyfriend thought I was a psycho bitch... which I was. It also lowered my libido extremely, and after 8 months, I decided I needed to change it. Idk why I waited so long. I've noticed what seems like an immediate change! I'm feeling less anxiety again, feeling a surge in my sex drive, and my anxiety has completely gone away. If you are experiencing these symptoms, do NOT wait to change! You will feel so much better, and no one needs to feel like that! (Only thing it did was keep me not pregnant, so obviously have to give it props for that, but honestly, don't get this birth control.)"

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Trinessa Lo and got switched to Tri-Lo-Sprintec since Trinessa Lo has been discontinued. Honestly, what is this? Like some other reviews mentioned, I start to bleed around week 3 of the pack, before the placebo. And the blood is really bright red, it looks abnormal. I don't understand what's happening to my body with this pill. I definitely have been way more emotional than usual. The one month where I managed to not bleed until my actual placebo, I had the worst cramps in my life (I've never been a crampy type), and I just felt miserable. After month 4 of being on this mess, I'm looking for something else because this pill needs to be taken off the market. Low sex drive, unusual bleeding, hormones acting up - it's too much. Only thing, my acne has gotten better. But not worth it!"

• MLy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I switched to Tri-Lo-Sprintec from Yaz because I hated the side effects of Yaz. Pros: I did not experience any loss of libido, my moods and mental states were normal, no weight gain, cramps under control, no abnormal bleeding, and most importantly, I did not become pregnant. Cons: I am now experiencing an apparent allergic reaction to the sun (being in the sun for even a short time, even with plenty of sunscreen, my skin gets red and itchy for days afterwards - photosensitivity reaction), plus I started having migraines after my first cycle on Tri-Lo-Sprintec. After 8 months on it, I've found some migraine triggers and now only get them once a month - during the inactive week of this pill (or about a week after starting a new pack straight away), so I'm stopping this particular pill to see if something with a different dose of hormone stops the apparently hormonal migraines. I can deal with the sun rash, but I cannot deal with the migraines anymore, which is sad because otherwise I loved this pill."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2013

For Birth Control "I don't have anything to complain about besides a big decrease in appetite, which is good and bad. It helps me eat healthier and eat the right portions, but I almost feel like I have to force myself to eat now, and I love food. So I've ended up shedding a few pounds, which I'm already tiny enough. But besides only a little spotting, my first period was shortened and minor cramping, it's working out fine for me! I was on Lo Estrin prior, and that made me feel a little moody and emotional and brought down my sex drive as well."

• Mis...
• November 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I got put on this birth control, Tri-Lo-Sprintec, two months ago to prevent pregnancy and to clear my hormonal cystic acne. I know everyone recommends you try something for at least three months before you ditch it and move on to your next possible solution. However, sometimes it just doesn’t work that way, and you just can’t take the mental abuse some of these medications cause. I’m not writing this review to scare off anyone from trying it, I searched and searched before being bold and reminding myself that everyone’s body is different and that maybe this birth control could potentially be my solution to clear skin. It wasn’t. I now have cystic acne on my cheeks, chin, and back. Starting out, I only had chin acne. I’ve always dealt with acne but haven’t had it this bad in a long time. This birth control has also made me have two mental breakdowns, I’ve never in my life had such a breakdown before. It made me lose my sex drive and did I mention how emotional I am after being on this BC? I hate it."

• jbr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2018

For Birth Control "My pharmacy switched me without informing me from Trinessa to Tri-Lo-Sprintec. At first, I was very skeptical, and my mother warned me against taking it, but I have never had any bad experiences with other birth controls before, so I figured this would be the same. Immediately, I began to notice a change in my appetite as I would eat more than ever before, resulting in weight gain. I also had almost no sex drive or desire to do anything with my boyfriend. I felt like I could not be myself as hard as I tried. Once my boyfriend approached me about how I had not been myself whatsoever, I knew I had to stop taking it. It was upsetting because despite all these side effects, it is the first birth control that has ever cleared up my acne, which I have struggled with for years."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2010

For Birth Control "As far as effectiveness, I did not get pregnant while taking this medication. However, I experienced so many side effects I eventually stopped taking it and switched back to Ortho-Tri-Lo. I experienced problems with mood swings, irritability, anxiety (racing heart and anxious feelings for no reason), depression, cramps, spotting, headaches, decreased sex drive, weight gain, breast/nipple tenderness, and vaginal irritation. All of these are side effects I had never experienced with Ortho, so I switched back and have little to no side effects. It definitely was not worth the money saved because it made me feel like a crazy person, and I really did not have control over my emotions. I would experience all extremes, especially anger and crying."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Ok, Tri-Lo-Sprintec works for preventing pregnancy, but honestly, I don't know anymore if it's worth it. I have been on it for 4 months now, and recently I find myself crying, without appetite, sad. I feel so hopeless right now! Not even my little baby cheers me up, and this is not me. My assumption is that this pill is messing up my mind. I should stop it and try to be my happy self again, though I don't know what pill to try now, all of them have the same type of feedback. I'm afraid to try another one that might be even worse. I just want to feel happy to be alive again. Secondly, I've been having pain in my breasts, and they feel heavy and swollen, like when you breastfeed, but I'm not breastfeeding since months ago! Anyone else felt breast pain on this pill? Oh! Third, but not last, my libido has decreased a little bit significantly, but I have noticed it's not the same as before either. So yep, I'm thinking to give up on this!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "I have been taking Tri-Lo-Sprintec for over 7 months. The reason I have kept taking it was because my last birth control pills gave me awful mood swings, depression, and zero libido. I was crying almost every day for no reason, snapping at my husband. This one is better, but only just. After trying it out for these past months, I am talking to my doctor about stopping. I’m done settling. He says I need the pills to protect my ovary since I had one removed and I have no children yet. I’m also in my mid-20s. With Tri-Lo-Sprintec, my libido has gone up from zero to two, but it is still affecting my marriage life. We’re frustrated and unhappy as I don’t feel like my normal self at all, even if there is slight improvement from the other pill I took before. I also have severe sinus congestion that I didn’t previously have, and I am tired of it all."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "I was switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, but the pharmacy gave me this birth control, claiming it was the same thing. I have been on it for almost 2 weeks, and I've had all sorts of side effects. I've had nausea and vomiting, blurry vision, trouble concentrating, itchiness, dryness, zero libido, and recently I've experienced episodes of anxiety, what I believe to be high blood pressure, high heart rate, then drops to normal vital signs. It's just been an awful 2 weeks so far. I don't think I can handle continuing the pack."

• Dev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2019

For Birth Control "Everyone's body is completely different, and Tri-Lo-Sprintec may work for some, but my experience was not the best. I took it for about 8 months, and during the last two months, I would have anxiety and outbursts of crying and felt really depressed. I also completely lost my sex drive. It was really hard for me to continue, so I stopped taking it, and all of the symptoms went away within 42 hours. The reason I'm giving it 2 stars and not one is that it did work for a while and didn't cause acne or weight gain, but I will not be taking it ever again."

• Jen...
• June 24, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I’ve been on this birth control for about 5-6 months. I switched from Loestrin 24 due to mood swings. One thing I hate about this pill compared to Loestrin 24 is that this pill has 7 placebo pills, and Loestrin 24 only had 3 placebos. I had bad side effects as soon as I started taking the pill, but I decided to stick with it in hopes that my body would adjust and things would get better. I am now ending month 5 on this pill, and things have only gotten worse. My periods are now 2 and 1/2 weeks long. I start bleeding when I start week 3 of the pack, bleed through that week, the placebo week, and a few days on my new pack. Also, I have terrible mood swings, insomnia, no sex drive. Only positive: no acne. I am 21, 5’9”, and 120 lbs for reference."

• Soc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I am almost done with my first pack, which is a new formulation that came out late last year. I did take FE Microgestin 1/20 a few years ago and stopped because that made me lose my libido, gain weight, and just feel dead inside. I decided to give it a shot again and was given this as a generic alternative. I like this better than Microgestin, but I have been feeling extremely tired and unmotivated, experienced minor spotting during the third week of hormone pills, and my vision becomes blurry from time to time. Not sure if the blurry vision is normal, but I hope that these symptoms subside after my body gets more used to it. Will leave another review in a few months."